Letter #77

Dear Family

So, to start off, I love Finland for its BEAUTIFUL landscape and trees and nature. The Finns are HUGE outdoors people and I like. I want to be one too!!!!

Go hockey!!! I love the sports Finland loves!!! Hockey is SOO cool!! a little rough but, way sweet!!!

okay, back to missionary work.

So my for sure departure date from Finland is June 26. I have to go home a bit earlier because of the new mission president coming. They dont want missionaries leaving as soon as he gets to Finland so they cut me short. :( Please be at the Airport with all little ones (james thats you) and huggables (mom thats you)!!!! okay any way.

This week was great!!! a couple of the members in lohja prayed that my companion and I would stay in Lohja and their prayer was answered!!! We found an investigator yesterday!! and have met some way sweet potential families. I love talking to people. Hate geting rejected. but that just belongs to the work. We are praying that 1 investigator of ours is baptized next month and that a family is baptized in april.

The members are SO stoaked to have missionaries here in Lohja. They are all praying for missionary work to move forward here so they can start their own branch. That would be so cool. I can totally see it happening.

We had a lesson were a investigating women asked some big questions such as why do men have the Priesthood and about baptism and all that jazz. We didnt resolve her concerns but reminded her that ALL those questions lead back to the divinity of the Book of Mormon. She wasnt really satisfied with that and kinda yueah. but very great spiritual experiance.

I lov eyou all and I pray for you!!!! have fun this week and be safe!!!

Love

Vanhin waite

Letter #76

HI FAMILY!!!

This week was really good!!! we met with a ton of people and had some great lessons!! the best part of the week was having one of our rougher around the edges investigator come to church on sunday!!! there was much rejoicing!! yeahhhhhhh!!!! he really enjoyed sacrament meeting and even felt the spirit strong enough to get a little emotional. Pretty sweet for a big Finnish man who works in security. we also met with a family this week. well, just the dad. but it was sad because he wasnt too interested and asked that we dont come back even though the mom really liked us but she was sick the second time so... thats just how that goes. other than that I just relized that I might only have two changes left on my mission. Every 9 weeks is a change and at the end of the 9 weeks we see if we go somewhere else. but I hope that I get to "die" or spend my last 9 weeks here in Lohja. Great place. I lov eyou all and the Book of Mormon is really an amazing book. The bible is kind of a weak testimony of Christ to all the nations but with the Book of Mormon it is a power house. its almost true!!!! haha. I love it!! i love you all and hope you have a very nice friend day. or valentinesday. its called friend day here. haha i lov eyou!!!

 

Vanhin Waite

Letter #75

Dear Family

 

This week was pretty chill. a ton happened so I hope you are all buckled in and ready for such a week.

 

So starting two sundays ago, we took a bus(even though we have a car) all the way down to Espoo. Its only like a 30 minute bus ride but this is the funny thing. I talked with this pretty chill guy, the sad thing was, there was a another guy studying to become a priest in the Lutherin church infront of me, so he lovingly joined the conversation and kinda wanted to keep talking. but long story shortened, we missed our stop and went all the way to Helsinki because I was talking. :)
We got a ride though from the Elders back to Espoo for the night.

 

The next morning is usually p day, but because of my companions 6 week reunion in the contry there is a special meeting for him and all the other special greenies and there blessed trainers. That is the reason and it is SO fun. but kills your p day time. Got up in the morning and took a train to Helsinki and rode some trams and had the meeting. Same thing for 3 days. Thursday is a bit different, It is my companions 6 week language school. Learn language tips there and at the same time, the trainers(which is me:) get to go to the temple. now this gets tricky, because we for a district activity, we had planned on going to hte temple friday, and as a missionary you can only go to the temple 1 a month, so I didnt go when my companion was in his language school. but that night we were supposed to go back to our city but... we didnt have bus tickets and we had no idea were the bus station was in big ol Helsinki. So, we ended up staying another night and going to the temple the next morning but, thursday night was when I emailed. :)

 

After the temple on Friday, we had no bus tickets or money except for a big fat 50 euro mark. we took a short bus and the price was like 5 euros because we were not going very far and the bus didnt want the 50 so he said just get on. it was really nice and such a blessing. because there was NO way to plan for all this stuff that happened. oh, we also were carring a box of Book of Mormons. that was heavy. After this short distance bus we waited in the snow and cold for our real bus, and this time our big mark was accepted. :)

 

So, all in all. we got home to our area with only 2 days left in the week. pretty exciting.

 

I love missionary work!! and even these crazy unexpected things are sure fun!! I love you all and have fun while being safe too!!!

Rakkaudella

Vanhin Waite